French jumper Yanis David (© Getty Images)
The past nine editions of the women’s long jump at the World U20 Championships have seen a different nationality take gold. And in what looks a wide-open event in Bydgoszcz, it’s anyone’s guess where the title will be headed in 2016.
Despite their proud long jump tradition, the United States has never won gold in this event, but they stand a good chance of doing so here. Their entrants are headed by Bria Matthews, who jumped a PB of 6.49m to win the US Junior Championships in Clovis, California, last month. Runner-up there was Samiyah Samuels, who was just five centimetres in arrears with her best jump of 6.44m and will renew rivalry with her teammate in Bydgoszcz.
The European challenge is led by Germany’s Sophie Weissenberg, who added a whopping 21 centimetres to her PB when taking victory at the U20 international meeting in Mannheim last month, her jump of 6.49m in the fifth round propelling her into title contention here. She will be joined by teammate Anna Buhler, who has a best of 6.47m this year.
France’s Youth Olympic triple jump champion Yanis David and Belgian heptathlete Hanne Maudens have both jumped 6.48m this season and should feature at the business end of the competition, along with Hungary’s Ezster Bajnok, who jumped 6.45m to win their national U20 championships in Szombathely last month.
The Asian challenge is led by Vietnam’s Asian U20 champion Thi Truc Mai Nguyen, who has a best of 6.34m this year, while another with possible medal claims is Thailand’s Parinya Chuaimaroeng, who has a best of 6.28m.
Romania’s Diana Ana Maria Ion, France’s Hilary Kpathcha and Jamaica’s Jessicca Noble are others worthy of respect in a contest that may well be decided by the finest of margins.
Cathal Dennehy for the IAAF
